Pulley stays
behind after
suspension

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Missouri junior point guard Randy Pulley, suspended indefinitely Saturday after missing two practices last week, did not make the trip to Lawrence.

A Missouri spokesman said the team has had contact with him since Saturday’s game, which he did not attend.

The coaching staff will re-evaluate Pulley’s place on the team later this week. His status for Saturday’s game at Nebraska is undetermined.

Pulley’s minutes decreased dramatically in the past few weeks, including playing the first two minutes and no more against Nebraska on Jan. 24 and suiting up but not playing at Colorado four days later. He has averaged 1.6 points in 11 games this season.

PAULDING SHINES AGAINST KU: Although Missouri’s 3-6 record under coach Quin Snyder against Kansas does not show it, senior guard Rickey Paulding has been strong against the Jayhawks. He averaged 17.4 points against Kansas before Monday’s game, his best scoring average against any Big 12 Conference opponent.

That scoring streak was not as evident Monday. He finished with five points in the first half, but played a large role in Missouri’s attempts to cut into Kansas’ lead midway through the second, finishing with 14 points and six rebounds.

His four turnovers and no assists were detrimental, though, and his wayward pass for forward Travon Bryant flew out of bounds with Missouri down 63-56 with 49.4 seconds left, securing the Kansas win.

Miles and Gardner started Monday, and Lee contributed off the bench. Miles won the matchup of Oregonians, scoring 11 points and adding eight assists.

Gardner struggled to three points on 1-of-9 shooting and Lee had three points and three rebounds in 19 minutes.

UNMATCHED RIVALRY: With the Tigers and Jayhawks meeting for the 249th time, most people, including Kansas coach Bill Self, knew the action and atmosphere would be intense.

“There are a lot of big games on a schedule but none any bigger than this one with the exception of postseason play,” Self said before the game. “I know it’s huge to our fans, and I certainly understand the rivalry a little bit with Mizzou, having been here for one year and having played against them the last three at Illinois because that’s a good rivalry.

“I know the intensity level, if it’s normally a 7, it’ll be a 10 tonight. I know you can throw out records. There will be a lot of guys out there making plays.”

Self never lost to the Tigers at Illinois and won his most recent game 85-70 on Dec. 21, 2002.

The intensity level lived up to Self’s expectations with the boisterous student section filling up soon after the Allen Fieldhouse gates opened. A sellout crowd of 16,300 watched and continually chanted derisive statements at the Tigers and the ushers whenever they tried to remove inappropriate signs from the stands.

The rivalry is the eighth oldest in the country and has been contested 98 straight years, which also is eighth best in the country.

The Jayhawks improved their record against the Tigers to 158-91, and they have not lost to the Tigers since a 71-63 win Jan. 24, 1999. The Jayhawks’ victories against the Tigers rank fifth-most victories of one school against another.

STREAKS SNAPPED: For the first time this season the Jayhawks won a game without scoring more than 70 points.

KU has won one of five games when they score fewer than 70. They are 13-0 when they score more than 70. The Jayhawks have averaged 62 points in their four losses.

The victory also prevented the Jayhawks from a two-game losing streak for the first time since January 2003.

Colorado defeated the Jayhawks 60-59 on Jan. 22, 2003, in Boulder, Colo. and then lost to Arizona at home 91-74 on Jan. 25, 2003.

GROUNDED ON GROUNDHOG DAY: With the loss, the Tigers are 9-11 on Feb. 2, which is Groundhog Day.

The Tigers’ most recent win came Feb. 2, 2000, when they defeated Colorado 86-81 in Boulder.

Their first game Feb. 2 was against the K.C. Athletic Club on Feb. 2, 1907. The Tigers lost that game 35-34.